Raised in Washington, D.C., Ellis attended Paul Laurence Dunbar High School, where his passion for words and imagery took root. He earned a B.A. from Harvard University and an MFA from Brown University in 1995. His poetry collections, The Maverick Room (2005) and Skin, Inc.: Identity Repair Poems (2010), published by Graywolf Press, earned widespread acclaim for their rhythmic innovation and bold exploration of race, identity, and D.C.’s go-go music culture. The Maverick Room won the 2006 John C. Zacharis First Book Award, cementing his place as a leading voice in contemporary poetry.

In 1988, Ellis co-founded the Dark Room Collective with Sharan Strange in Cambridge, Massachusetts, creating a vital space for African American writers, nurturing talents like Tracy K. Smith and Major Jackson. His leadership extended to Heroes Are Gang Leaders, a literary free jazz ensemble he co-founded in 2015, which earned the 2018 American Book Award for Oral Literature.

As a photographer, Ellis captured the essence of D.C.’s go-go scene and, later, St. Petersburg, Florida, where he was named the first Photo Laureate in 2023. His forthcoming work, The Go-Go Book: People in the Pocket in Washington, D.C., promised to further immortalize his city’s cultural heartbeat.

Ellis’s career included teaching at Sarah Lawrence College, Case Western Reserve University, and Lesley University’s MFA program, where his mentorship inspired countless students. His poems, published in The Paris Review, Poetry, and Best American Poetry (1997, 2001, 2010, 2015), earned him a Whiting Writers’ Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship. His work was praised for its “percussive prosody” and fearless social commentary, resonating with readers worldwide. Tributes on X, including posts from @PoetryLoverDC, call him a “visionary” whose art “gave voice to our city.”

The cause of Ellis’s death remains private, but the outpouring of grief reflects his immense impact. A memorial service is planned, with details to be shared through Snowden Funeral Home in Rockville, Maryland. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Dark Room Collective or a D.C.-based arts organization in his name, honoring his commitment to creativity and community.

Thomas Sayers Ellis is survived by his loving family, whose names are withheld for privacy. His legacy of poetry, photography, and activism will continue to inspire. Rest in peace, Thomas, your words and images will forever echo in Washington, D.C., and beyond.